A general view of Newcastle United supporters waiting outside the stadium for news of the latest developments in the sale of the club to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund for 300 million-pound ($408 million) takeover in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England Thursday Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
The Magpies have been battling to avoid a potential Premier League points deduction for failing to comply with PSR, which allows clubs to lose £105million over a three-year rolling cycle. United needed to sell on or before June 30, the day of the accounting period deadline.
In what turned out to be a manic Saturday where at one stage it was suggested Newcastle were prepared to offload Anthony Gordon to Liverpool, Eddie Howe’s side have reluctantly decided to part ways with young prospects Minteh and Anderson for a combined £68million.
It will likely ensure key assets such as Gordon, Alexander Isak, who was the subject of an enquiry from Chelsea earlier this week, and Bruno Guimaraes, whose £100million release clause expired last Monday, will stay put.
And in another turn of events, Howe’s men are in talks to sign Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimo in what is viewed as a potential trade-off.
Minteh initially looked set to join Everton having understood to have agreed personal terms but the move collapsed when a reciprocal deal involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin couldn’t be agreed. The Toffees reportedly demanded £37million for the striker, who has just one year remaining on his contract.
Lyon then came forward and Marseille also showed interest but the Gambian rejected a move to France due to his preference to seal a Premier League move. And the 19-year-old will get his wish at Brighton after a £33million deal was agreed on Saturday evening. He is set to undergo his medical and sign a long-term contract today.
Although Minteh is tipped to be a roaring success in the future, PSR has forced Newcastle’s hand and they will instead make a quick profit on a player they signed for just £7million last summer. He, of course, didn’t kick a ball in black and white after spending the 2023-24 season on loan at Feyenoord.
The 21-year-old was sidelined for four months last season with a serious back injury before returning to play in the remaining 12 games. Anderson made 55 appearances for United and was expected to make many more, however, in a PSR world, selling an academy player goes down as “pure profit” therefore encouraging clubs to do exactly that.
That said, there is also an acceptance that Anderson will have struggled for regular minutes next term with Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley ahead of him in the midfield pecking order. On the left flank, there is Gordon and Harvey Barnes.
Anderson understandably did not want to leave Newcastle but has agreed to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical after a £35million fee was reached. According to Sky Sports News, Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is set to move in the opposite directio, solving another potential issue with Loris Karius gone and Martin Dubravka expected to follow.
Vlachodimos, 30, is an experienced goalie having had spells at Stuttgart, Panathinaikos and Benfica before his switch to the City Ground last summer. The Greek is on course to become United’s third summer signing after Lewis Hall and Lloyd Kelly.
